20 Most Recent Directv Plus DVR DTV Receiver / 100-Hours Video Recorder Questions & Answers

Delete some of your recorded programming.

When it's rebooting, on the first blue screen press 02468 on the remote. This will force a software update. If you have trouble getting it enter at the right time or you just want to make sure, just keep pressing 02468 until it goes to the update. It won't hurt any thing. Hope this helps.

Are both tuners fed with a signal?

If you are referring to an R15 (the big box in the picture with your post), there should be 3 blue lights on the front of the DVR: one to the far left (power), a big circle in the middle, and one on the right indicating the resolution the DVR is currently trying to send to the TV. The orange light indicates that something is being recorded; either a show or something from DTV like channel listings. The orange light has nothing to do with your TV but may indicate that the DVR is downloading setup information. As for turning your TV on, when you first get DTV, the DVR remote does not know how to talk to your TV set, only the DVR, so you have to teach the remote to talk to your TV. To do that, turn your TV on with the remote that came with it (or the on/off switch on the TV if you're a dinosaur like me) and change the TV input to whatever input the DVR is attached to - usually HDMI or Component. If you see something (a TV show, a guide, a DirecTV logo, etc.) you're in the right place. Now hit the Menu button on the DTV remote and you'll see a menu on the left that includes "Setup". Use the arrow buttons on the DTV remote to move to Setup, press Select, and then select Program Remote. Follow those instructions carefully, step by step, and you should be all set. (Caveat: I am working from memory so the exact wording might not match and I might have missed a menu level. If so, I apologize.)

When we had the R15 (we have since upgraded) we could record two channels at once with no trouble. You have to have two satellite connections in the back (since it uses a separate tuner for each channel) and you cannot watch a third channel while recording two others - if you're going to watch, you have to watch one of the two shows you're recording.

one of the tuners isn't connected to a signal source, or is failing.

I'm having the same issues.....started this morning.Any luck yet?

if you go to: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageIF.jsp?assetId=P4380052#h:1020.450


it has different remote codes. you would have to select "satellite setop box" also you need the model # of the receiver which can be found (normally) behind a door on the front panel of the receiver on a sticker (where the access card and reset button are) if its not a directv receiver, (hughes, etc) then it would probably be on the back of the receiver you would see a sticker with the model # of this receiver.

the first code should be 00001 follow the instructions on how to program on that website.

You have an internal hard drive error. You will need a new box.

First, sorry for the delay in respoding to your post. I did notice that you had a prior question about the Power Supply on an R15 DVR. Does the unit have a manufacture code of 500(found on the right hand front Flip Door of the DVR)? If so, I might be able to help you in repairing the Power Supply. As far as I know, getting your DVR up and running again is the only way to watch your previously recorded programs. As far as retreiving programs from your old Hard Drive via other methods, I probably won't be able to help you there. When I had both of my identical DVR 15 500's apart for a parts swap to diagnos a failed Phototransistor(infra-red sensor for the remote control), I also tried to swap out the Hard Drives. This is what I found: When you swap a Hard Drive into another DVR, it won't play any of the programs previously recorded. However, if you record new programs on the swapped Hard Drive then they will be playable on this current setup. Now, if you swap the Hard Drive back to the original DVR it came out of, the programs will once again be accessible except for any that you might have recorded while the Hard Drive was in the other DVR. So, in conclusion, when programs are recorded on a particular DVR, it is encoded electronically to play back only in that DVR via communication from the Motherboard and the Hard Drive. I know, it sucks, but that is why I was asking if you are pretty sure the Power Supply is at fault. If so, I received info from this forum on how to fix the issue. Also, if the attempt fails, Ebay has some previously owned DVR's for sale and maybe you can get one for spare parts. Remember, the Power Board and Front Display Control Panel are the only interchangeable parts IF you want to view the programs on your DVR's Hard Drive. Let me know what your DVR does when you plug it in. That will go far in further diagnostics of your DVR.

VOD (Video on Demand) is selectable TV, films etc. So if you haven't used this service it won't show up on your viewing menu. You also need the correct receiver. Have a look at these links for further info.

http://www.directstartv.com/direct-tv-blog/directv-rolls-out-vod-p81.html

http://www.dish-television.com/2008/07/07/direct-tv-vod/